Ricky Lynn Patterson, 61, is the 13th Alabama inmate to have died after testing positive for COVID-19, and the fifth serving at Staton Correctional Facility to die after positive test results.
Patterson was housed in the prison’s infirmary due to several chronic health conditions, the Alabama Department of Corrections announced Thursday. He was tested for coronavirus on June 11 after exposure to another inmate who tested positive for COVID-19. Patterson tested negative at the time, but tested positive at a local hospital on June 29, where he was to undergo a scheduled procedure. He died Wednesday.
“Patterson was discharged from the hospital on July 8, but was transferred back on July 9 due to complications from the procedure performed while he was hospitalized. He remained under the care of the hospital until his passing,” ADOC said in a press release.
Two other inmates at St. Clair Correctional Facility also tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of infected inmates since the start of the pandemic to 141.
Three additional ADOC prison workers self-reported positive COVID-19 test results, the department announced. One worker at Bibb Correctional Facility, one at the Mobile Community Based Facility and Community Work Center and another at Staton prison all tested positive.
In total, there have been 224 confirmed COVID-19 cases among prison workers, and 141 have since recovered. Two workers at the Julia Tutwiler Prison for Woman died after testing positive for the virus.
Of the state’s approximately 21,000 inmates, 585 had been tested as of Thursday.
